Anybody out there?

The NFL gets turned on its head every week. It's something that I love that also bothers me. The Giants were surefire Superbowl contenders after 5 games. As recently as two weeks ago, there was no way they were going to the playoffs. They had a shot at first place on Sunday but they dropped it. Now they have an outside chance at the division and a solid shot at a wild card. I'm simultaneously pessimistic and optimistic about the Giants. This isn't an anomaly really. It's how I operate most seasons.

Eli played absolutely out of his mind on Sunday night. There were at least 4 balls dropped by Nicks and Smith in the first half. Manningham would have had two touchdowns if he kept his feet in bounds, or started his pattern closer to the hash if you put stock in Collinsworth's assessment (I think the fade becomes too obvoius if you lineup too tight. Manningham just needs to get his frigin' feet in.)

These are all just young wideouts who need to get used to the idea that the ball might be there on any given play. In college, quarterback's don't check down to their 3rd and 4th options very often, certainly not in the spread offense that everyone's running. Does that necessarily explain Nicks dropping a surefire touchdown pass where he had beaten his man by two or three yards? No, but I think it's applicable at least to a degree. More importantly, it's fixable. It's frustrating but it can change.

When Eli Manning is hot he's one of the best quarterback's in the league. There, I said it. Consistency has never been his strong suit, however. He's given to lapses of lackadaisical southern 'awe shucks' crap. We must consider also that he has been playing on plantar fascitis all year in his right foot, and that this has given way to a more serious, stress-related problem. But let's not think about it too much. We're striving for a balanced perspective.